Monday, June 16, 2014

1 dead, 16 critical after US tornadoes

Kita Sebenarnya Pernah Mati Dan Hidup Kembali

Baru-baru ini US digoncangkan dengan bencana alam yang hampir merosakkan seluruh wilayah perkampungan Pilger Nebraska United State (source). Bukanlah suatu perkara yang asing bagi kita sering mendengar bencana alam menjadi tetamu tak diundang di mana-mana saja dan memusnahkan segala apa yang ada dihadapannya. Lumrah alam yang sengaja diberikan Allah kepada hambanya agar hambanya tidak lupa akan kekuasaanNya di muka bumi ini.

Allah tidak akan menzalimi hambanya melainkan hambanya menzalimi dirinya sendiri. Peringatan terus dari Allah ini sememangnya bukanlah menjadi jangkaan kehebatan teknologi manusia, malah menunjukkan betapa lemah manusia hingga tidak tahu apakah yang bakal berlaku pada detik seterusnya, melainkan mempersiapkan diri untuk berhadapan dengan bencana alam lainnya.

Allah yang telah menjadikan bumi ini, menciptakan segala yang ada di bumi ini, menghidupkan dan mematikan sebagaimana dalam firmannya dalam Al-Quran :

"Bagaimana kamu tergamak kufur (mengingkari) Allah padahal kamu dahulunya mati (belum lahir), kemudian Ia menghidupkan kamu; setelah itu Ia mematikan kamu, kemudian Ia menghidupkan kamu pula (pada hari akhirat kelak); akhirnya kamu dikembalikan kepadaNya (untuk diberi balasan bagi segala yang kamu kerjakan)". - Al-Baqarah ayat 28.

Dia juga berhak melakukan apa saja dimana saja mengikut kehendakNya, firman Allah dalam Al-Quran :

"Dialah yang menjadikan bumi ini untuk kamu sebagai hamparan, dan langit (serta segala isinya) sebagai bangunan (yang dibina dengan kukuhnya); dan diturunkanNya air hujan dari langit, lalu dikeluarkanNya dengan air itu berjenis-jenis buah-buahan yang menjadi rezeki bagi kamu; maka janganlah kamu mengadakan bagi Allah, sebarang sekutu, padahal kamu semua mengetahui (bahawa Allah ialah Tuhan Yang Maha Esa)". - Al-Baqarah ayat 22.

Mengapa manusia masih tetap ingkar melanggar perintahNya, mengutamakan jalan gelap syaitan dan menjadikan syaitan sebagai penasihat kehidupannya. Kita yang beriman kepada Allah dan Rasulnya Muhammad, sedar akan setiap bencana menimpa adalah rahmat dari Allah SWT agar hambanya tidak lupa bahawa Allah itu Maha Berkuasa atas segala-galanya.

1 dead, 16 critical after US tornadoes
17 JUNE 2014 @ 11:38 AM

Footage Of Twin Tornadoes Touch Down in Nebraska.

PILGER, Nebraska: At least one person was killed and 16 others were in critical condition today after massive tornadoes swept through northeast Nebraska, destroying more than half of the town of Pilger, hospital and emergency officials said.

The National Weather Service said at least two twisters touched down within roughly a mile of each other. Emergency crews and residents spent the evening sorting through demolished homes and businesses in the town of about 350, roughly 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of Omaha.

“More than half of the town is gone — absolutely gone,” Stanton County Commissioner Jerry Weatherholt said. “The co-op is gone, the grain bins are gone, and it looks like almost every house in town has some damage. It’s a complete mess.”

Victims were taken to three regional hospitals, and at least one had died from unspecified injuries, hospital officials said.

Stanton County Sheriff Mike Unger estimated that 50 to 75 percent of Pilger was heavily damaged or destroyed in the storm. The local school is likely beyond repair, he said.

“It’s total devastation,” Unger said.

Unger said five people had to be rescued from a rural home day care facility northwest of Stanton. That home was hit just before the storm moved into Pilger.

Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman declared a state of emergency, and the National Guard was preparing to deploy to assist local emergency responders and help with the cleanup. Heineman and officials with the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency were expected to arrive Tuesday morning.

Pilger was evacuated for the night, and the Nebraska State Patrol closed all roads into town. Most residents made their own arrangements, but some were taken to a shelter at Wisner-Pilger Jr.-Sr. High School in nearby Wisner.

About a dozen residents had arrived at the makeshift shelter by 9:30 p.m., and school officials were expecting more to come later, said Wisner-Pilger Schools Superintendent Chad Boyer. The shelter will remain open to residents for as long as needed to offer food, water, showers and cots, he said.

“I just have to use one word — devastation,” Boyer said by phone from inside the school. “It’s a tremendous loss all around the town. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with the community.

Tornadoes also caused damage in Cuming and Wayne counties, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said in a news release.

“We are still in a response mode in these communities,” said Earl Imler, NEMA’s operations officer. “We are collecting damage reports from local officials on the ground.”

Faith Regional Health Services in nearby Norfolk was treating 16 patients with critical injuries, and one person had died, said hospital spokeswoman Jodi Richey.

Providence Medical Center in nearby Wayne treated three tornado patients, including two who had lacerations, said hospital spokeswoman Sandy Bartling. Two were released Monday evening, and the third patient was in stable condition, she said.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service were also tracking a tornado near the town of Burwell, in central Nebraska.--AP

Source : http://www.nst.com.my/node/3574
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